AN award giving body was launched on Monday to encourage journalistic participation in the agricultural sector.

The 4th BrightLeaf Agriculture Journalism Award, a national award giving body, will honor outstanding feature and news stories, radio pieces, video stories or photographs that chronicle and capture agricultural landscape in the country, said the press statement of the event, which is sponsored by the Philip Morris Foundation.

The award recognizes journalists who tirelessly report about the state of the agricultural industry in the Philippines. It also raises awareness and support for the people who feed and fuel our country,? the press statement said.

The awards has ten categories: Agricultural Story of the Year, Tobacco Story of the Year, Best Television Program or Segment, Best Radio Program or Segment, Agricultural Photo of the Year, Tobacco Photo of the Year, Best Regional News Story, Best National News Story, Best Regional Features Story and Best National Features Story.

A new category called the Oriental Leaf Awards was also introduced to honor the constant contributors and winners of the Brightleaf for the past three years.